AFL: Collingwood destroys abject Carlton at the MCG

Domination ... Travis Cloke kicked five goals as the Magpies put Carlton to the sword.

AAP: Joe Castro

Collingwood has thumped rival Carlton by 41 points at the MCG on Friday night to firm its AFL finals chances.

The 17.16 (118) to 12.5 (77) win lifts Collingwood up to seventh place and puts daylight between the Magpies and Blues, who sit outside the finals places.

A reported rift between absent defender Harry O'Brien and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley looked set to overshadow the Magpies' efforts and Carlton looked the goods in the first period, kicking seven majors at 100 per cent accuracy.

But Carlton's cause began to unravel when Jarrad Waite limped off with a leg injury .

Collingwood then reversed the momentum entirely with three unanswered goals before the quarter-time buzzer, before kicking another six in the second period to the Blues' solitary major.

Carlton was stunned and, after Andrew McInnes's goal put the Blues up by 28 in the first quarter after 25 minutes, the Magpies responded with 11 goals to the home side's one.

To add to the Blues' woes, Mitch Robinson went to the sidelines with a shoulder complaint.

"We don't worry about the guys who aren't playing, we know what's expected with the 22 that run out. We pick the best 22 every week.

"We have players who deal with different issues all the time and it can get draining for the senior players and the leaders. But that's what leadership is about, it's about standing up when your club needs it.

"Everything's a distraction ... but one thing that people get sick of me saying is focus on what you can control.

"That's preparing, playing well on the day and playing your role and the guys did that tonight."

Travis Cloke kicked five goals for Collingwood while Ben Reid also chipped in with a healthy four.